Shoe



1943- J. HIRSCH 2,327,043

SHOE

Filed Feb. 8, 1941 John Much Inventor a. (Tum-mu Patented Aug. 17, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Claims.

My invention relates to shoes and more especially to shoe toe constructions.

An object of my invention is to provide a shoe having a toe construction that may be opened or closed to conform to the two styles of shoes, the open toe style and the closed toe style.

Another object of my invention is to provide an overshoe with a closable vent to facilitate fitting the overshoe over the regular shoe.

My experience in the sale of shoes has shown me that ladies buy shoes as much for the reason of style as they do for reasons of utility. The demands of style place an extra burden upon women. It was with the throught of economy in the purchase of ladies shoes, from the standpoint of following styles, that I was led to invent a shoe that would conform to the two styles of shoes now worn by ladies, the open toe style and the closed toe style.

To illustrate my invention I have illustrated two means of carrying out this invention, but it is to be understood that my invention is not to be limited to the structures disclosed in the drawing forming a part of my disclosure,

In the drawing Figure 1 illustrates a ladys shoe embodying my invention in shoe toe construction.

Figure 2 illustrates the shoe toe of the shoe illustrated by Figure 1 showing the shoe toe vent opened.

Figure 3 illustrates another shoe toe construction embodying my invention, and

Figure 4 illustrates a removable toe cap forming a part of the toe closure means illustrated in Figure 4.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, S designates a shoe, T designates the toe opening of the shoe. The toe cap C is comprised of right and left toe flaps F. The toe flaps F are joined together by a "zipper" Z, as shown in Figure 1. When the "zipper Z is closed the toe flaps F are joined together to make a complete toe cap to close the toe opening T of the shoe S. When the "zipper" Z is opened the toe opening T of the shoe 8 is opened, as shown in Figure 2. The flaps F are fastened to the body of the shoe 5 and they are preferably made of an elastic material and sewed onto the shoe S so that when the zipper Z is opened the flaps F will shrink from their stretched closed position to define a neat, clean-cut shoe toe opening T, as shown in Figure 2 of the drawing. With the zipper Z closed, as in Figure 1, the shoe S conforms to the closed toe shoe style. When the "zipper Z is opened, as in Figure 2, the shoe S conforms to the open toe shoe style. The zipper tab is preferably made in the form of a small bead B to give an artistic effect to the shoe toe cap 0.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, C designates a. removable toe cap for closing toe opening T. In

this form of my invention the toe cap C is joined to the shoe S by means of a zipper Z" designed to completely encircle the toe cap C so that the cap C may be entirely removed from the shoe S. The cap 0' may be made in the form either of a semi-rigid cup shaped member, or in the form of a flexible closing flap depending upon the design of the rest of the shoe in which it is incorporated. The particular shape, color, and texture of both of the forms of shoe caps illustrated in the drawing embodying my invention are dictated by the material, design, and style of the shoes in which they are incorporated.

While the drawing and accompanying dcscriptions illustrate and describe the use of the zipper as a. means for closing the toe caps of the shoe, it is to be understood that within the scope of my invention I contemplate using other closing means, such as snaps, hooks and eyes, and lacings. And whereas I have said that the closure flaps F in the form of cap illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 are sewed on to the toe T of the shoe S, I also contemplate fastening the flaps F to the shoe S by means of glue, snaps, hooks and eyes, or lacings. The method of lacing caps to the toes of shoes, and the method of using lacings for closing the caps of shoes, are both contemplated. That is to say, I contemplate the use of laclngs for both lacing the caps to the toes, and for closing the caps, where the style of the shoe would dictate it.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a ladys shoe provided with a hole in its toe, a style changing device comprising a removable opaque covering means for closing said hole and a fastening means adapted to hold the covering means over said hole.

2. In a ladys shoe provided with a hole in its toe extending to the sole of the shoe, a style changing device comprising a detachable opaque covering means and a fastening means for holding the covering means over said hole.

3. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the covering means constitutes a removable cap.

4. The device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the covering means comprises a pair of stretchable flaps fastened to the shoe around the hole.

5.A ladys shoe provided with an opening in its toe, a part of said opening being defined by the sole of the shoe, a style changing device comprising a removable opaque cap adapted to close said opening and a slide fastening means including a pair of interlocking sets of members for attaching the cap to the shoe, one set of members of the fastening means being attached to the cap and surrounding the same and the other set of members of the fastening means being attached to the shoe along the wall of the opening to surround the same.

JOHN HIRSCH. 

